Voters to decide between 7 candidates in special state Senate election

Early voting, which started Aug. 4, ended Friday. Polling locations will be open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Linda Barkwell, the polling site manager for Canton City Hall, said there were no hiccups throughout much of the day. The only challenge she had was turning people away who live in the county but not the senate district.

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

With a crowded field, it is unlikely any candidate will reach the 50% threshold to win the race outright. A runoff election for the top two vote-getters is set for Sept. 23.

Rose Wildermuth, who identifies as conservative, said she hoped there were fewer Republicans in the race to avoid splitting the vote.

“I wish we banded together against the Democrat (Debra Shigley) to fight against the ‘woke left,’” said the Canton resident.

Wildermuth, 54, said she voted for Steven West, a former Cherokee County commissioner, because he supports the same values as Trump — namely gun rights and ridding the government of waste, fraud and abuse through the Department of Government Efficiency.

Senate District 21 represents just about 214,000 voters, and candidates have poured large sums of money into the race, raising a combined $1.1 million.

Republican Jason Dickerson, who runs a private investment firm, lent himself $500,000.

Contractor Lance Calvert gave himself $125,000. And Brian Will, who owns a restaurant management company, lent himself $101,000 for his effort.

Other candidates focused on fundraising.

West, president of Flex-Fab Inc., a steel and metal fabricator, raised $189,000.

The only Democrat in the race — Debra Shigley — collected $141,000, most of it in small contributions.

Stephanie Donegan, a Republican from Milton, raised just $500, according to her campaign disclosure report.

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

The Republican candidates are focusing on taxes, saying residents need relief from rising property taxes in particular. Others want to expand the state’s voucher program, which gives money to students who are zoned to attend low-performing public schools.

In a local election, many of the voters knew the candidates personally and supported them based on their existing relationships.

Vanessa Johnson, 42, said she voted for Dickerson because their families are close friends, and she appreciates his volunteer work. “I know he would do a fantastic job,” she said.

Ashley Lee, 40, said Brice Futch, a Canton Republican and firefighter, is her son’s government teacher though a homeschooling group. “He shares our support of homeschooling,” she said.

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez